 |
Electrical Wiring Question?
Two part question:
1. I am upgrading the last three circuits in my house that use aluminum wire. One of the circuits is the gas furnace. I know that most homes have a dedicated 15A circuit for the blower motor. I want to replace the 12/2 alum. wire with 12/2 copper and replace what the idiot before me did (20A breaker for 12/2 alum). I will replace the 20A breaker w/ 15A. Is this ok?
2. For lighting I am planning to use 12/2 copper everywhere, just because its easier for me than buying 12 and 14 AWG wire. Is it ok to wire lighting and outlets with 12/2 on 15A breakers (knowing that 12/2 is rated for 20A). I ask this because most lighting wires are stranded 14 AWG and I have always been taught that you can go smaller to larger gauge wire but not the other way around.
The strand 14 gauge wire are those coming off of the light fixture, not actual wiring. As for three way lighting from the second question, its a bathroom that will not require that.
Typo
Not smaller gauge to larger gauge, larger AWG to smaller AWG, i.e. 14 to 12 or 12 to 10 NOT 10 to 14 etc.
Answer:
For your first question, are you replacing the aluminum wire? I'd use 14/2 with a 15amp breaker or 12/2 with a 15 amp breaker.
For your second question, yes its fine to run 12/2 on a 15 or 20 amp breaker. You will be fine running a 20 amp breaker and will need it depending on number or lights. You may be just as well to use 14/2 with 15 amp breaker. You cannot use a larger breaker than the wire is intended for..ie 14/2 with 20 amp breaker. I have never seen anyone wire their house with strand wire, only the 8, 10, 12, and 14 gauge romex.
Back
|
Your answer to this question:
|
|
|
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
|
| |
